Rain-soaked state under flash-flood watch today

By Curtis Lum and Suzanne Roig
Advertiser Staff Writers

A flash-flood watch remains in effect for the state today, as a winter storm continues to dump rain over most islands.

There were no reports of major damage caused by the rain last night. But for about three hours last night, O'ahu was under an urban and small-stream flood advisory after the National Weather Service reported rain falling at rates of 2 inches per hour over Honolulu, 'Aiea, Hale'iwa, 'Ewa and portions of Windward O'ahu.

The weather service's forecast called for scattered showers with a chance of thunderstorms today. But the rain should begin to diminish this evening with the return of trade winds, the forecasters said.

In 'Aina Haina yesterday, heavy rain undermined a retaining wall, causing it to buckle and crumble, and leaving beachball-sized rocks littering the road.

The family living on the 900 block of Ahuwale Place left their home at the suggestion of city officials who believe that the heavy rains over the weekend dislodged rocks and soil. The city closed off the road Monday night after removing the debris.

Clarence Ma, 20, lives across the street from where the wall broke. He was watching TV when he heard the first of many rocks tumble onto the roadway fronting his home. "It was pretty loud," Ma said. "I was pretty nervous and didn't go to work because I wanted to make sure my family was safe."

The area has been known to have problems with landslides and falling rocks. Valleys throughout East Honolulu are made up of a soil that has a high adobe clay content, which has a tendency to absorb water and expand when wet and to contract when dry.